Container erecting and filling apparatus



Nov. 30, 1965 w. H. KILLEEN 3,220,159

CONTAINER ERECTING AND FILLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1962 ESheeos-Sheet l Jag Jig;

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United States arent @dice 3,22%,l59 Patented Nov. 30, 1565 3,220,159CONTAINER ERECTING AND FILLING APPARATUS Walter H. Killeen, New Orleans,La., assignor to The Celotex Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,082 5 Claims. (Cl. 53-186) The presentinvention relates to a container erecting and filling apparatus, andmore particularly to a novel container erecting apparatus whichpositions the erected container in a predetermined position for thereception of material to be packaged.

Conventionally, containers are shipped to their destinations in acollapsed or knocked-down condition. Obviously, it is uneconomical andimpractical to transport empty containers in an erected conditionbecause of the excessive volume they would occupy. Furthermore, erected,but empty, containers are more difficult to handle than stacked arraysof collapsed cartons.

There are various types of apparatus available for erecting suchcollapsed containers, but in general, the existing machinery is complexand costly. Usually, the apparatus comprises numerous gears, belts,moving arms and holding devices. Such complex apparatus is expensive andsubject to high maintenance cost to keep it in repair. Reliability `ofperformance is comparatively poor.

After the container is properly erected, it must be positioned so thatit can be easily filled with the material to be inserted therein. Thispositioning should be done by the same apparatus which erects thecontainer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel containererecting apparatus which is simple to manufacture, economical tomaintain, and highly reliable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelcontainer erecting .apparatus which has a minimum of parts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novelcontainer erecting apparatus which not only erects a collapsed containerbut also positions the erected container for simplified filling withcontents.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration ofthe specification and the attached drawings, in which like numeralsindicate like elements and wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective, schematic view of the apparatus of theinvention;

FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views, similar to FIGURE l,showing the the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in successive stages of operation;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus,

. similar to FIGURE 1, but having a portion thereof shown incross-section; and

FIGURES 7 and 8 are end elevational views, partially in cross-section,of details of the apparatus of FIGURE l.

Referring to FIGURE l, there is therein shown a f stacked array 10 ofcollapsed containers 11, having the lowermost edges of the containerssupported on a platform 14.

An upstanding clip 16 is mounted in alignment with the lowermost edge ofthe array 10 of collapsed containers Pipes 22 and suction cups 23 formpivotal container grasping means to remove a container from the arrayand effect erection thereof in the manner to be described hereinafter. Acrank handle 23 is connected to a rotating joint 30 (FIGURE 6) topivotally move pipes 22 into engagement with the outermost container 11in array 10 and then arcuately downwardly into slots 25, as shown inFIGURE 6. The arrangement of crank 28 and pipes 22 is shown in schematicform as the specific details do 4not form an essential part of theinvention, but may take different forms as desired.

Four flap engaging fingers 3538 are mounted on a frame member 40 andengage respective ones of the rear flaps of the container 11, in amanner described hereinafter. Retracting springs i3-46 are mountedagainst respective fingers 35-38 to hold the fingers out of engagementwtih the flaps until the material to be inserted into the container ismoved into the container. Details of fingers 35-38 and springs 4.3-46will be discussed hereinafter in conjunction with FIGURES 7 and 8.

An upright retaining means 50 is mounted to a frame member 51 erected onplatform 14 and spaced from the stacked array 10 by a distance less thanthe sum of the widths of two adjacent sides of a collapsed container 11.Retaining means 50 extends upwardly to a height about that of thestacked array I0. As shown in FIGURE 6, retaining means 50 is hinged at52 so that it can be swung out of the way to permit removal of theerected container after the contents have been inserted. A conveyor 54is provided for moving the filled container away from the apparatus.

A side restraining means 57 in the form of a rod fixed to frame member51 at 58 is arranged to bear against flap 61 and iiap 62 (FIGURE 2) ,ast-he container'is being initially erected. The restraining means 57 ispositioned so that it strikes iiap 61 to hold it and flap 62 againstforward movement. Rod 57 does not strike fiap 61 at a right angle but atsuch an angle that it glances off fiap 61 and permits flap 61 to extenditself and lie flat upon platform 14.

The various frame members 20, 40 and 51 are herein shown schematicallyand may take van'ous forms of wood members or steel beams beingconnected together as desired. Those skilled in the art will be aware ofthe most convenient forms.

Having described certain of the main features of the container erectingapparatus, reference may now be had to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 for additionaldetails.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational View, partly in crosssection, similar toFIGURE l, and shows the stacked array 10, the flap engaging fingers35-38, retracting springs 43-46, upright retaining means 50, platform 14and the details of the suction system for pipes 22 and suction cups 23.A source of suction or Vacuum 70, which may be an evacuated tank orsuction pump means, is connected through a valve 72 and over a pipe 74to a coupling joint 30. Joint 30 is sealed against leakage but permitsrotation of pipes 22 from an upright position to a position in whichthey are retracted into slots 25. A conveyer 54 is positioned adjacentplatform 14 to receive the erected container when it is removed from theplatform. Upright retaining means 50 may be swung out of the way usinghinges 52.

FIGURE 7 shows in partial cross-section the rear portion of theapparatus behind FIGURE 1. A conveyer mechanism is used to bring a stackS2 of material to be inserted into the erected container 11. A plunger85, schematically shown, is used to push the stacked material into thecontainer. In the present instance, the material comprises a stack ofacoustical tile in a size of about l2 x l2" x l". The rear container 11has four fiaps -93 hinged'ly attached to the main shell portion andextending rearwardly toward the stack of material. Fingers -38 arehingedly mounted on 'frame member 40 and are held in retracted positionagainst stack 82. Flap 93 and finger 36 are not shown because of thepartial cross-sectional nature of FIGURES 7 and 8.

As shown in FIGURE 8, when plunger 85 forces the stack 82 toward theerected container, the finge-rs are eX- tended to engage iiaps 96-93 andlhold `them out of the way until the material has entered the container.

Spring clips 43-46 are mounted on frame member 40 and urge fingers 35-38away from `ilaps 90-93 until movement of the stack 82 forces themoutwardly.

Having described the mechanism of the container erecting apparatus ofthe present invention, the operation is as follows:

A stacked array 10 of collapsed containers is placed into positionbehind clips 16 and 18. Handle 28 is moved to the left to bring suctioncups 23 against the bottom side 100 of the container. Suction is appliedthrough pipes 22 and suction cups 23 to grasp side 100. Handle 28 isthen rotated clockwise and the container is pulled away from the arrayand outwardly of clips 16 and 18. The remaining containers move slightlyforward in a position so that the next container in the array ispresented. As the handle 28 continues its clockwise movement, container11 is pulled toward retaining means 50 and because of the pivotalrotation of pipes 22, it tends to fall with its top approachingretaining means 50 rather than moving in a straight line.

As collapsed container 11 moves twoard wall 50, restraining means 57strikes flap 61 and prevents both flap 61 and flap 62 from movingdownward until after the container has been partially erected. It shouldbe realized that container 11 may act in two different ways when it isbeing urged toward upright means 50. The container may open lto becomeerected, or it may merely continue to move downwardly in a collapsedcondition. Which of the two ways the container will act depends uponwhether the sides 108 and 110 hinged at 111 of the container behind theside grasped by suction means 23 break to the left or right in thedrawing as shown.

If the hinged sides 108 and 110 along the left of the collapsedcontainer break to the left, the container will become erected properly.If the hinged sides 108 and 110 break to the right, so that the hingedportion 111 precedes the sides 108 and 110, the container will remain ina collapsed condition upon further rotation of suction pipes 22.

The function of restraining means 57 is to insure the proper breakingaction of the container. It has been found that without restrainingmeans 57, Vsome containers have been erected properly and some noterected at all in an unpredictable manner. With restraining means 57 inplace, each container is erected properly.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 show the manner in which the container 11 is erectedin sequential steps. Thus, in FIG- URE 2, handle 28 has been movedclockwise urging pipes -22 in partial clockwise rotation. The container11, being grasped by suction cups 23, is moved away from the array 10and its upper edge approaches retaining means 50. Simultaneously, aspreviously explained, restraining means 57 provides for the proper breakof the container so that upon further movement it will be erected.

As shown in FIGURE 3, which shows further rotation of 'handle 28, thecontainer has been further erected and its upper portion is adjacentretaining member 50. Restraining member 57 has slipped olf iiap 61 butcontinues to bear against flap 62.

In FIGURE 4 the container has been completely erected and one side .115lies against retaining member 50. In the erection of the container, side115 rides downwardly against retaining member 50, and thus the containeris properly positioned with its bottom section 100 against the platform14 and side 115 against retaining 4 member 50. At this time the pipes 22have been retracted into slots 25.

The container having been properly erected and positioned, reference maybe had to FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 which show details of that portion of theapparatus for properly inserting material into the container. FIGURE 5illustrates an end View of the erected container with a stack ofacoustical tile 82 partially filling the container.

With reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, plunger 85 is urged forwardly in thedirection of the arrow to push stack 82 of acoustical tiles toward thecontainer. As the stack 82 moves to the left, lingers 35, 37 and 38 areurged forwardly and outwardly against the action of spring members 43,45 and 46, respectively. Fingers 35, 37 and 38 engage the flaps 90, 91and 92 at the rear of container 11 and force them outwardly so as t-oprovide a clear path for the stack 82 of acoustical tiles. The suctionis maintained through pipes 22 so that the container is held in positionagainst being displaced by the insertion of stack 82. After the plungerhas inserted the stack 82 completely into the erected container, plunger85 is then retracted. Simultaneously, fingers 35, 37 and 38 are returnedto their original positions, clear of the container.

The bottom portion of retaining means 50 is swung out of the way and thecontainer with its contents is removed to conveyer 54, after the suctionhas been removed from pipes 22.

The entire process is then repeated to pack a second stack of acousticaltiles which are brought into position on conveyer 80.

It should be realized that the application of suction is controlled byvalve 72 which is here shown as a hand valve. However, without departingfrom the scope of the invention, other means, such as a foot pedaloperated valve may be utilized. The speciiic size and configuration ofthe fingers 35-38 may be adjusted depending upon the size of the flapsof the container and may be positioned depending upon the size of thecontainer itself.

In summary, the present invention relates to a novel container erectingand filling apparatus which not only ,provides for positive erection ofcontainers, but also positions the container so that its contents may beeasily introduced therein.

For the sake of clarity, certain minor details have been shownschematically. However, the specific construction of these details willbe obvious to those skilled in the art and may be provided for withconventional apparatus.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, other changes and modifications will occur to those skilledin the art, and it is intended to cover .all such changes andmodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Container forming and filling apparatus for erecting a collapsedcontainer having a four-sided main shell, each of said sides beinghingedly secured to two adjacent sides to form a hollow parallelopipedin an erected condition, comprising:

means including a platform `and frame for holding a plurality ofcollapsed containers in a stacked array, said platform having an uppersurface for supporting the lower edges of said containers in said array,

means connected to said holding means for removing a rirst one of saidcontainers from said array and initiating erection thereof,

restraining means connected to said frame for inhibiting forwardmovement of one of said sides of said container, and

upright retaining means xedly mounted on said upper surface of saidplatform and spaced from said array by a distance less than the sum ofthe widths of two adjacent sides of said container to effect erection ofsaid container in cooperation with said removing means and to place saiderected container in a predetermined position.

l 2. Container forming and filling apparatus for erecting a collapsedcontainer having a four-sided main shell, each of said sides beinghingedly secured to two `adj-acent sides to form a hollow parallelopipedin an erected condition, comprising:

means including a platform and frame for holding a plurality ofcollapsed containers in a stacked array, said means also comprising clipmeans mounted at the top and bottom of one end of said array, saidplatform having an upper surface for supporting the lower edges of saidcontainers in s-aid array, pivotal suction means associated with saidplatform and arranged to rotatably emerge from and be retracted intosaid platform for removing a first one of said containers from saidarray and initiating erection thereof, restraining means connected tosaid frame and disposed at an acute angle with respect to one outer edgeof said container for inhibiting forward movement of one of said sidesof said container, and upright 4retaining means fixedly mounted on saidupper surface of said platform and spaced from said array by a distanceless than the sum of the widths of two adjacent sides of said containerto effect erection of said container in cooperation with said removingmeans 4and to place said erected container in a predetermined position.3. Container forming and filling apparatus for erecting a collapsedcontainer having a four-sided main shell, each of said sides beinghingedly secured to two adjacent sides to form a hollow parallelopipedin an erected condition, comprising:

means including a platform and frame for holding a plurality ofcollapsed containers in a stacked array, Said means also comprising clipmeans mounted at the top and bottom of one end of said array, saidplatform having an upper surface for supporting the lower edges of saidcontainers in said array, pivotal suction means associated with saidplatform and arranged to rotatably emerge from and be retracted intosaid platform for grasping one of said sides of a first one of saidcontainers and removing said container from said array and initiatingerection thereof, restraining means connected to said frame and disposedat an acute angle with respect to one outer edge of said container forinhibiting forward movement of one of said sides of said container, andupright retaining means fixedly mounted on said upper surface of saidplatform and spaced from said array Iby a distance less than the sum ofthe widths of two adjacent sides of said container to effect erection ofsaid container in cooperation with said removing means and to place saiderected container in a predetermined position. 4. Container forming andfilling apparatus for erecting a collapsed container having a four-sidedmain shell, each of said sides being hingedly secured to two -adjacentsides to form a hollow parallelopiped in an erected condition, saidcontainer also having closure flaps forming outward extensions of eachof said sides at each end thereof, comprising:

means including a platform and frame for holding a plurality ofcollapsed containers in a stacked array, said platform having an uppersurface for supportmg the lower edges of said containers in said array.

means connected to said holding means for removing a first one of saidcontainers from said array and initiating erection thereof, restrainingmeans connected to said frame and disposed at an acute angle withrespect to one edge of said container for inhibiting forward movement ofone of said sides of said container, upright retaining means fixedlymounted on said upper surface of said platform and spaced from saidarray by a distance less than the sum of the widths of two adjacentsides of said container to effect erection of said container incooperation with said removing means and to -place said erectedcontainer in a predetermined position, and flap opening means mounted onsaid frame adjacent one end of said container for engaging and holdingsaid flaps at one end of said container out of the way during theinsertion of contents into said container. 5. Container forming andfilling apparatus for erecting a collapsed container having a four-sidedmain shell, each of said sides |being hingedly secured to two adjacentsides to form a hollow parallelopiped in an erected condition, s-aidcontained also having closure flaps forming outward extensions of eachof said sides at each end thereof, comprising:

means including a platform and frame for holding a plurality ofcollapsed containers in a stacked array, said platform having an uppersurface for supporting the lower edges of said containers in said array,means connected to said holding means for removing a first one of saidcontainers from said array and initiating erection thereof, restrainingmeans connected to said frame for inhibiting forward movement of one ofsaid sides of said container, upright retaining means lixedly mounted onsaid upper surface of said platform and spaced from said array by -adistance less than the sum of the widths of two -adjacent sides of saidcontainer to effect erection of said container in cooperation with saidremoving means and to place said erected container in a predeterminedposition, flap opening means mounted on said frame adjacent one end ofsaid container for engaging Iand holding said aps at one end of saidcontainer out of the way during the insertion of contents into saidcontainer, and spring members cooperatively associated with said flapopening means for :holding said flap engaging means in a retractedposition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,728,177 12/1955Holstebroe et al. 53-186 X 2,831,407 4/1958 Pittman et al 53-186 X2,851,837 9/'1958 Ardell et al. 53-186 3,015,923 1/l962 Dotzenroth53-186 3,067,556 12/1962 Neer 53-186 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

1. CONTAINER FORMING AND FILLING APPARATUS FOR ERECTING A COLLAPSEDCONTAINER HAVING A FOUR-SIDED MAIN SHELL, EACH OF SAID SIDES BEINGHINGEDLY SECURED TO TWO ADJACENT SIDES TO FORM A HOLLOW PARALLELOPIPEDIN AN ERECTED CONDITION, COMPRISING: MEANS INCLUDING A PLATFORM ANDFRAME FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF COLLAPSED CONTAINERS IN A STACKEDARRAY, SAID PLATFORM HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING THE LOWEREDGES OF SAID CONTAINERS IN SAID ARRAY, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HOLDINGMEANS FOR REMOVING A FIRST ONE OF SAID CONTAINERS FROM SAID ARRAY ANDINITIATING ERECTION THEREOF, RESTRAINING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAMEFOR INHIBITING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF ONE OF SAID SIDES OF SAID CONTAINER,AND UPRIGHT RETAINING MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID UPPER SURFACE OFSAID PLATFORM AND SPACED FROM SAID ARRAY BY A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE SUMOF THE WIDTHS OF TWO ADJACENT SIDES OF SAID CONTAINER TO EFFECT ERECTIONOF SAID CONTAINER IN COOPERATION WITH SAID REMOVING MEANS AND TO PLACESAID ERECTED CONTAINER IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION.